DONATING BLOOD THIS WINTER

Blood Donation Centres always struggle to receive the donations they need over Winter, and this has been an even bigger problem recently with a lot of flu and Covid in the community.

Blood donations help people through serious events in their life, such as cancer, a car accident or a difficult pregnancy. Others have medical conditions which mean they regularly need blood products.

Donating blood remains as important as ever, and this is why the SDA negotiates for Blood Donor’s Leave in enterprise agreements.

BLOOD DONOR’S LEAVE

Many enterprise agreements that have been negotiated by the SDA include a relatively common provision known as Blood Donor’s Leave.

The SDA has negotiated this provision with major companies like Coles and Woolworths supermarkets, Bunnings, Target and Kmart, Big W, BWS and Dan Murphy’s just to name a few. The provision allows full-time and part-time employees to be absent from work without loss of pay during ordinary working hours in order to donate blood.

Employees can take up to a maximum of two hours’ paid leave on each occasion, subject to a maximum of four separate absences each calendar year.

It is expected that the employee will donate blood on a day suitable to the employer with sufficient notice of the scheduled appointment.

Proof of attendance at a recognised place for donating blood, such as the Red Cross Blood Bank, and duration of the attendance may be requested by the employer.

Where To Donate Blood

Blood donation is quite easy. The whole visit to a Blood Donation Centre usually takes about one hour.

There are over 100 permanent donor and mobile centres across Australia. Remember – you can’t donate blood if you feel unwell.

To make an appointment to donate blood in your area: l Call the Red Cross Blood Bank on 13 14 95; l Download the Donate Blood app for iPhone or Android; l Go to lifeblood.com.au (or scan the QR code below). The website also contains information on donating blood, including frequently asked questions.